Worldwide Who's Who Names Diana M. Dahl Professional of the Year in Education Administration

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, August 24, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Diana M. Dahl, the Director of Business Development for ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, has been named a Worldwide Who's Who Professional of the Year in education administration. While inclusion in Worldwide Who's Who is an honor, only a small selection of members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, years of service, and the credentials they have provided in association with their Worldwide Who's Who membership.

Formed in 1969, ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania operates as a community-based organization and charter school management organization whose mission is to serve the high risk North Philadelphia community, which has the third largest Puerto Rican population outside of Puerto Rico. Committed to empowering Puerto Ricans and other minorities through advocacy, education, and a focus on cultivating the leadership skills of its youth, ASPIRA of PA has grown and been able to serve many communities in need.

With nine national affiliates, The ASPIRA Association is currently the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to Hispanic education and promoting self-esteem and pride in students' cultural heritage in the United States, and ASPIRA of PA is the largest of all ASPIRA state affiliates. Beginning its mission with its flagship Leadership Development program, which is still active in several schools today, ASPIRA of PA has added numerous other programs to its repertoire, including the TRIO Educational Talent Search, several afterschool and summer camp programs, and courses for parents. In 2008, ASPIRA of PA expanded to become a charter school management organization, offering bilingual education uniquely suited for the community it serves. On the right track for achieving its goals, ASPIRA of PA aims to produce bilingual/biliterate students who, upon graduating from high school, are socially conscious individuals who are ready to make a positive impact on society.

Over the course of her eight year career, Diana Dahl has held positions as a director of operations and director of youth development for various organizations, including ASPIRA, who are dedicated to education reform. Upon assuming her current leadership role, Ms. Dahl continued to hone her expertise in educational program design, project management, grant writing, and curriculum development, and her attention to detail, accountability, and passion for getting things done have allowed her to achieve immense results as an education professional. Ms. Dahl is tasked with obtaining funding and sponsors for ASPIRA of PA, as well as contributing to the growth and development of new and existing programs and managing quality assurance by engaging in internal auditing practices.

Attributing her succees to her belief in her profession, her passion for the underserved, and her ability to learn quickly, Ms. Dahl always knew she wanted to work in education. Although she received a teaching certification from the state of Pennsylvania, she knew her work would not be in the classroom itself. On the lookout for an appropriate means to challenge the public school system for the sake of institutional advancement, Ms. Dahl found ASPIRA of PA to be a natural fit for her passions. Starting her work in youth development, she noticed there was a lack of funding for programs, and after acquiring millions of dollars in grant money for afterschool and summer programs, the organization moved her into business development. Ms. Dahl has acquired over $15 million in funding for ASPIRA of PA and played a key role in its acquisition of two new charter schools. Truly loving what she does, Ms. Dahl is extrememly proud of the growth of the organization to a PreK-12 charter school system of five schools and 15 educational programs for the community. Four years ago, ASPIRA of PA had approximately 100 employees, and today that number has reached nearly 700. She thanks Alfredo B. Calderón, ASPIRA of PA's CEO, for his consistent guidance and belief in her abilities.

Ms. Dahl's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Penn State University and she is currently pursuing a master's degree in educational policy from Drexel University. She is affiliated with several professional organizations dedicated to education, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, WorkReady Committee of the Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Grant Professionals Association, PA Partnerships for Children, PA Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network, Afterschool Alliance, National Association of Professional Women, and the Penn State Alumni Association.

This year, Ms. Dahl is engaged in a mentorship program through the National Association of Fundraising Professionals, and from 2009-2010 she was a National Afterschool Matters Initiative Practitioner Inquiry Fellow. In the future, Ms. Dahl would like to serve as a Chief Officer at ASPIRA of PA or become the owner of her own education consulting firm. Away from her work, she enjoys painting, ceramics, soccer, working out, and supporting other nonprofits such as St. Jude Children's Hospitals, the Salvation Army, and local women's shelters.

For more information about Diana Dahl and ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania, visit http://www.dianadahl.net and www.aspirapennsylvania.org.

About Worldwide Who's Who
With over 500,000 members representing every major industry, Worldwide Who's Who is a powerful networking resource that enables professionals to outshine their competition, in part through effective branding and marketing. Worldwide Who's Who employs similar public relations techniques to those utilized by Fortune 500 companies, making them cost-effective for members who seek to take advantage of its career enhancement and business advancement services.

Worldwide Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third-party endorsement of their accomplishments, and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, it offers an online networking platform where members can establish new professional relationships.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldwidewhoswho.com.

Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director, Media Relations
[email protected]

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